Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2018 | Page 12

AT H L E T I C S
Relay for victory: 1969 Boys' Outdoor Track & Field
W
ith individuals competing against other
individuals, while simultaneously competing
for their team, track and fi eld oft en has a diff erent
team dynamic than other sports. However, for the
1969, 1990, 2008 and 2018 boys’ outdoor track and
fi eld teams, functioning as a team proved crucial for
their success. All four of these teams won the state
championship thanks to clutch performances in the
fi nal relay.
Th ornton Academy won its fi rst state championship
in boys' outdoor track and fi eld in 1969. A track meet
consists of many diff erent events, and athletes that
place in the top six win points for their team. Th e
order of events is always the same, and the 4x200
relay always concludes the meet. At the 1969 state
championship, going into the fi nal relay, Th ornton
Academy was behind Bonny Eagle by half a point.
If Th ornton Academy placed ahead of Bonny Eagle,
they would would win the meet. Th e gun went off , and
the runners raced down the track. Th ornton’s team
consisted of Dave Harris '69, Leonard ‘Lenny’ Allen
'69, Tom Welch '70, and Adrien ‘Andy’ Dutremble '69.
At the fi nish line, Th ornton placed one place ahead of
Bonny Eagle to secure the state championship.
Harris reminisces fondly on the day, “Outside of
marrying my wife of 44 years and the birth of my
children, it was one of the most exciting days of my
life. It didn’t matter if you set state records or fi nished
6th, a point was a point.”
Th is story is remarkable enough. A seemingly
individual sport depending on a team to secure
victory for the team as a whole. But then it happened
again in 1990. And again in 2008. And once again
this year in 2018. Each of these state championships
also came down to the fi nal relay. And each time,
Th ornton fi nished victorious. Quite the coincidence in
a tradition of excellence.
Head Coach George Mendros '76 has been around
to see it all. As a spectator in 1969, he cheered on the
winning team. As a track & fi eld coach since 1981,
Mendros recalled his memories from 1969 and was
able to see them repeat the other three years.
“Besides being the fi rst TA team to win a state
championship in track, the 1969 team showed that you
had to have confi dence in whatever you did. Trailing
going into the relay and having to make a late change
in the lineup of the team, they knew what they had
to do and they then went out and did it. To be able
to compete at the championship level you need to
believe in yourself, and something a coach has to do
is make sure that their athletes are mentally, as well as
physically, ready to face any obstacles.”
Members of the 1969 Boys Outdoor
Track and Field Team
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Story by Katy Nicketakis · Photo Courtesy of Andy Dutremble '69